JP2017024848A - Image reading device, and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that, in a configuration where an original loading surface 30a of a paper feeding tray 30 rises/lowers, with a paper discharging tray 13 under the paper feeding tray 30, if the original loading surface 30a is raised at always before starting a job, the original is possible to be damaged when a user lifts up the paper feeding tray 30.SOLUTION: A lift-up control is changed for an original loading surface 30a when an original is placed in a paper feeding tray 30, depending on a case where a paper discharging tray original presence detection sensor 19 detects that there is an original in the paper discharging tray 13 or where it detects there is no original in the paper discharging tray 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus.

  In recent years, with the progress of digitization of books and documents, there is an increasing demand for reading a large amount of documents at once in an image reading apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder ADF (Auto Document Feeder). In order to increase the amount of documents that can be set on the ADF paper feed tray at one time, a configuration (FIGS. 13 and 14) is known in which the document stacking surface of the ADF paper feed tray is raised and lowered by a lifter mechanism.

  The user starts an image reading job by pressing a start key for starting image reading. However, when a small amount of original is set on the paper feed tray and the original stacking surface is raised after an instruction to start a job, the start of image reading is delayed by the amount of time the original stacking surface is raised. For this reason, when a document is set on the paper feed tray, when a setting key other than the start key such as color mode setting or number of copies is pressed, control for raising the document stacking surface (Patent Document 1) is performed. Proposed. In addition, there has been proposed a control (Patent Document 2) that raises a document stacking surface without pressing a start key for starting image reading when a document is set on a paper feed tray.

JP 2010-14369 A Japanese Patent No. 3747986

  When a document is set on the ADF paper feed tray and the document image is read, the read document is discharged to the document discharge tray. As a general ADF configuration in recent years, there is a document discharge tray immediately below a paper feed tray. For this reason, in consideration of the ease of taking out documents from the paper discharge tray when a large number of documents or small-size originals are in the paper discharge tray, the paper feed tray is often configured to be manually lifted ( FIG. 15 (a)). As in Patent Documents 1 and 2, an apparatus that raises a paper feed tray before a job start instruction tries to lift a paper feed tray on which a document is placed in order to take out a document on a document discharge tray. In this case, the paper feed roller may interfere with the upper surface of the document (FIG. 15B). If the paper feed roller interferes with the upper surface of the document, the document may be damaged.

  Means for solving the above-described problems includes a feeding position where sheets are stacked and a sheet can be fed, and a stacking unit capable of taking a standby position below the feeding position, A first sheet stacking means provided rotatably, a feeding means for feeding a sheet in contact with the sheet when the stacking portion is at the feeding position, and the first sheet stacking means. An image reading unit that reads an image of a conveyed sheet; a second sheet stacking unit that is provided below the first sheet stacking unit and on which a sheet on which an image has been read by the image reading unit is stacked; Second information acquisition means for acquiring information on the presence or absence of sheets stacked on the second sheet stacking means; drive means for raising the stacking section from the standby position to the feeding position; and Control means to control and And when the second information acquisition unit determines that no sheet exists in the second sheet stacking unit, the control unit sets the stacking unit before starting the image reading job. A first control for controlling the driving unit to be positioned at a first position above the standby position is executed, and the control unit is configured to perform the second sheet stacking unit by the second information acquisition unit. If it is determined that a sheet is present, the driving unit is controlled so that the stacking unit is positioned at a second position below the first position before the image reading job is started. It is possible to execute the second control.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus that starts image reading quickly without damaging the sheet on which the image is read.

Sectional drawing which shows the example of the image reading apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the example of the image reading apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the example of the image reading apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the example of the image reading apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of feed tray lifting control according to the first embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the example of the image reading apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the example of the image reading apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the operation unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the example of the image reading apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of sheet feed tray lifting control according to the second embodiment. Sectional view of an image reading apparatus for explanation in the background art Sectional view of an image reading apparatus for explanation in the background art Sectional view of an image reading apparatus for explanation in the background art

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, exemplary configurations of an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an image reading apparatus including an ADF according to the present embodiment. The image reading apparatus 1000 of this embodiment includes an image reading unit 200 that reads an image of a document and an automatic document feeding unit (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 100, and is not shown in the image reading device 1000 shown in FIG. The controller unit is connected.

  An image forming apparatus 1200 that forms an image by a known electrophotographic method is disposed below the image reading apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1200 includes an image reading apparatus 1000 and an image forming unit 1100. The image forming unit 1100 includes a photoconductor, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device. The exposure apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor based on the image information acquired by the image reading apparatus 1000. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor into a developer image with toner. The transfer device transfers the developer image developed on the photosensitive member to the recording medium conveyed. The fixing device fixes the developer image on the recording medium to the recording medium.

<Configuration Example of Image Reading Unit 200>
The image reading unit 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image reading unit 200 records an original (sheet) placed on the original platen glass 209 by scanning the optical scanner unit 202 at a constant speed in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow a in FIG. The read image information is read line by line (fixed reading). A document placed on the sheet feed tray 30 (first sheet stacking means) is transported by the ADF 100 and read by the optical scanner unit 202 provided facing the center position of the read roller 6 (sink). reading).

<Configuration Example of Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) 100>
The operation of the ADF 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The ADF 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a paper feed tray 30, a paper feed roller 1 (feeding means), a separation pad 21, and a separation roller 2.

  The sheet feed tray 30 is loaded with a document bundle S composed of one or more documents. The paper feed roller 1 is supported so as to be rotatable up and down. The separation pad 21 and the separation roller 2 are configured to feed a document one by one while suppressing a plurality of documents (multiple feeding) when the document is conveyed by the paper feed roller 1.

  The paper feed tray 30 includes a document presence / absence detection sensor 14 (first information acquisition unit). The document presence / absence detection sensor 14 is a sensor for determining the presence / absence of a document on the paper feed tray 30. The document presence / absence detection sensor 14 can use a known optical sensor or photo interrupter. For example, an original sensor may be detected directly by an optical sensor, or a detection flag that can be swung so as to protrude on the document conveyance path is arranged, and a change in the transmission state of the photo interrupter due to the swing of the detection flag is used. The original may be detected. It should be noted that an optical sensor, a photo interrupter, or the like can be used for sensors other than the document presence / absence detection sensor 14 used in this embodiment. The paper feed roller 1 is attached to the front end of a swingable paper feed frame, and feeds the original by dropping and rotating on the uppermost original of the original bundle S stacked on the paper feed tray 30. It has a possible configuration.

  An explanation will be given of the scanning operation.

  The uppermost original of the original bundle S is fed by the rotation of the paper supply roller 1. The original fed by the paper feed roller 1 is separated into one sheet by the action of the separation roller 2 and the separation pad 21. This separation is realized by a known separation technique.

  The document separated into one sheet by the separation roller 2 and the separation pad 21 is conveyed to the registration roller 4 by the drawing roller 3, and the leading edge of the document is abutted against the registration roller 4. As a result, a loop-like deflection is formed on the original, and the skew in the conveyance of the original is eliminated. On the downstream side of the registration roller 4 in the conveyance direction of the document, a conveyance path for flowing the document that has passed through the registration roller 4 and guiding it toward the reading glass 201 is disposed.

  The document sent to the conveyance path is conveyed to the image reading position by the reading upstream roller 5. The image reading position is a position between the flow reading glass 201 and the lead roller 6. When passing through the image reading position, the original illumination LEDs 203a and 203b irradiate the surface of the original with light. The reflected light of the light irradiated on the document is reflected by a plurality of mirrors 204 a, 204 b and 204 c and enters the image reading sensor 208. The image reading sensor 208 converts the surface image of the document into image data by performing photoelectric conversion on the received light, and performs reading. When only the surface image of the original is read, the original conveyed by the reading downstream roller 7 is conveyed by the discharge roller 12 to the discharge tray 13 (second sheet stacking unit). When there are a plurality of documents on the paper feed tray 30, the above-described processing is repeated until the reading of the final document and the paper discharge to the paper discharge tray 13 are completed. The paper discharge tray 13 is provided below the paper feed tray 30.

  When the back side image of the document is also read, after the rear end of the document whose front image has been read passes through the paper discharge sensor 11, the rotation of the paper discharge roller 12 is stopped based on the detection of the paper discharge sensor 11, and the document is discharged. Before exiting the paper roller 12, it is stopped. Then, by rotating the paper discharge roller 12 in the reverse direction, the document is conveyed toward the registration roller 4, the document is conveyed again to the image reading position, and the back side of the document is read. Further, the document for which reading of the back image has been completed is stopped before the trailing edge of the document passes through the paper discharge sensor 11 and before the paper discharge roller 12 is removed. Then, by rotating the paper discharge roller 12 in the reverse direction, the original is conveyed again toward the registration roller 4, conveyed to the paper discharge tray 13 without being read, and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 13. As a result, after all original images are read, the original arrangement order on the paper feed tray 30 before the image reading is the same as the original arrangement order of the originals discharged to the paper discharge tray 13.

  When there are a plurality of documents on the paper feed tray 30, the above-described processing is repeated until the reading of the final document and the paper discharge to the paper discharge tray 13 are completed. The paper discharge tray 13 includes a paper discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19 (second information acquisition unit). The paper discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19 is a sensor for determining the presence or absence of a document on the paper discharge tray 13.

  Further, the paper feed tray 30 is rotatably supported, and is configured to be manually lifted as shown in FIG. 15A in order to make it easy to take out the document ejected on the paper ejection tray 13.

<Explanation of block diagram>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control unit of the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment. The controller 310 includes a CPU 801 that is a central processing unit, a ROM 802 that is a read-only memory, and a RAM 803 that is a random access memory. The ROM 802 stores a control program, and the RAM 803 stores input data and work data. The CPU 801 executes the control program according to the flow shown in FIG.

  The CPU 801 is connected to a separation motor 820 and a reading motor 821 in order to realize a document conveying function. The separation motor 320 rotates the paper feed roller 1, the separation roller 2, the drawing roller 3, and the registration roller 4. The reading motor 821 drives the reading upstream roller 5, the reading roller 6, the reading downstream roller 7, and the paper discharge roller 12. Some of the rollers are connected to a separation motor 820 or a reading motor 821 via a solenoid 811 and a clutch 812, and drive transmission from the motor is controlled by the solenoid 811 and the clutch 812. The CPU 801 can rotate the paper feed roller 1, the separation roller 2, the drawing roller 3, and the registration roller 4 in a direction to send the document downstream in the conveyance direction by rotating the separation motor 820 in the normal direction. Further, the CPU 801 can lift the paper feed roller 1 to the upwardly raised position by reversing the separation motor 820.

  The CPU 801 is connected to a document presence / absence detection sensor 14, a post-separation sensor 15, a pull-out sensor 16, a registration sensor 17, a lead sensor 18, and a paper discharge sensor 11. The post-separation sensor 15, the pull-out sensor 16, the registration sensor 17, the lead sensor 18, and the paper discharge sensor 11 are respectively arranged on the document conveyance path in FIG. 1, and detect the document edge at the position where each sensor is arranged.

  The separation motor 820 and the reading motor 821 are pulse motors. The CPU 801 manages the number of drive pulses of each motor, and relates to the state of document detection by the sensor on the transport path, thereby monitoring the position of the document being transported and controlling each motor. When the document is discharged to the discharge tray 13, the discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19 detects the presence of the document. When the user removes the original from the paper discharge tray 13, the paper discharge tray original presence / absence detection sensor 19 detects the absence of the original.

  The CPU 801 is connected to a lift-up member 26, a paper feed roller sensor 27, a lifter lower limit sensor 28, and a lifter motor 822 so that the document stacking surface 30 a (stacking unit) of the paper feed tray 30 can be raised and lowered. Has been.

  The CPU 801 is connected to the LED 203 and the image reading sensor 208 in order to realize an image reading function. Image data read by the image reading sensor 208 is directly sent to the controller via the image processing unit 833. The CPU 801 transmits the read image data to the controller unit 300 via the image line 353. Further, the CPU 801 takes a timing and notifies the controller unit 300 through the controller IF unit 354 of the vertical synchronizing signal serving as the reference of the leading end of the document image data and the horizontal synchronizing signal serving as the reference of the pixel leading end of one line.

  The controller unit 300 includes a CPU 901, a ROM 902, and a RAM 903, and exchanges data related to image reading control via a communication line 354 with the CPU 801. The image data is performed via an image line 353 between the image processing unit 833 and the image processing unit 905, and the data received from the image reading unit 200 is stored in the image memory 906. In addition, the controller 300 includes an operation unit 904. When the user operates the operation unit 904, the CPU 901 of the controller unit 300 performs control.

<Example of lift-up / lift-down control>
FIGS. 3A, 3 </ b> B, 3 </ b> C, and 3 </ b> D are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a process in which the document stacking surface 30 a of the paper feed tray 30 of the image reading apparatus including the ADF according to this embodiment is raised. The CPU 801 can rotate the lift-up member 26 by rotating the lifter motor 822 in the normal direction to raise the document stacking surface 30a (referred to as lift-up). Before this lift-up, the CPU 801 rotates the separation motor 820 in the normal direction and lowers the paper feed roller 1 from the raised position so that the paper feed roller sensor 27 detects OFF. FIG. 3A shows this state. The paper feed roller 1 is moved to the raised position when setting the original so that the original can be easily set on the paper supply tray 30 and lowered when the original is fed.

  When lift-up control is performed to lift up the document stacking surface 30a, the document stacking surface 30a rises in the direction of the black arrow in FIG. 3A, and the documents stacked on the paper feed tray 30 also rise. . As the upper surface of the document rises, the paper feed roller 1 is also pushed by the upper surface of the document and rises. The CPU 801 monitors the paper feed roller sensor 27 and causes the lifter motor 822 to rotate normally until it detects ON. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, the uppermost document on the sheet feeding tray 30 can be stopped at a position where it can be fed. The position of the document stacking surface 30a where the uppermost document on the sheet feeding tray 30 can be fed is defined as a feeding position. When the document stacking surface 30a is at the feeding position, the sheet feed roller 1 feeds the document by rotating in contact with the document.

  The paper feed roller 1 is lowered as the uppermost surface of the document is lowered. Therefore, in the process of sequentially transporting the originals on the paper feed tray 30 and reading the images, the lowering amount of the paper feed roller 1 increases as the number of originals decreases. Then, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the paper feed roller 1 is lowered, the paper feed roller sensor 27 detects OFF. In this case, the CPU 801 rotates the lifter motor 822 in the normal direction again to raise the document stacking surface 30a, and stops the document stacking surface 30a at a position where the paper feed roller sensor 27 detects ON. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3D, the original on the paper feed tray 30 can be moved to a position where it can be fed. By repeating the above, the uppermost document on the paper feed tray 30 can be always kept within the range in the height direction in which it can be fed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where 300 originals are stacked on the paper feed tray 30 and are full. When the lift-up control is performed, the CPU 801 detects that the paper feed roller sensor 27 is ON even when the paper feed roller 1 is lowered with the lifter lower limit sensor 28 turned on. It is determined that the paper feed tray 30 is fully loaded. If full document is detected when lift-up control is to be performed, it is determined that there is no need to raise the document stacking surface 30a, and the lifter motor 822 is rotated by the backlash of the drive gear train to raise the document stacking surface. Control not to let it. As a result, the document stacking surface 30a can be lifted up smoothly when lift-up control is performed during subsequent document transport. It should be noted that when the load is full, the lift-up control may not be performed and the lifter motor 822 may be controlled not to move.

  Further, the CPU 801 can rotate the lift-up member 26 by reversing the lifter motor 822 to lower the document stacking surface 30a (referred to as lift-down). At the time of the lowering, the CPU 801 monitors the lifter lower limit sensor 28 and lowers it until the lifter lower limit sensor 28 detects ON, whereby the document stacking surface 30a can be stopped at the lower limit position (standby position). FIG. 1 shows a state where the paper feed tray 30 is stopped at the standby position.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 801 performs lift-up control when the document presence / absence detection sensor 14 changes from the document absence detection state to the document presence detection state. That is, when it is determined that the document is placed on the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30, the document stacking surface 30a is lifted up, and the user's instruction to start an image reading job (image reading instruction) is issued. It is designed to be able to feed as soon as it comes. Thus, by lifting up the document stacking surface 30a before the start of the image reading job, the document stacking surface 30a is lifted up only after the start of the image reading job is issued from the lift-down state as shown in FIG. Compared to the case, the time until the start of image reading can be shortened. Further, when copying after image reading, it is possible to speed up FCOT (First Copy Out Time). Here, the FCOT is the time from when the start key for starting the image reading job is pressed until a copy of the read original is output. Note that “before the start of the image reading job” refers to a period from when the user sets a document on the paper feed tray 30 to before the start key for starting the image reading job is pressed.

  Further, when the document presence / absence detection sensor 14 changes from the document presence detection state to the document absence detection state, lift-down control for lifting the paper feed tray 30 is performed.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 801 performs lift-up control immediately when the presence of a document on the document stacking surface 30a is detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Time measurement may be started when it is detected that there is a document on the document stacking surface 30a, and lift-up control may be performed when a predetermined time or more has elapsed with the document being present. Further, the time until the lift-up is performed after the document is present on the document stacking surface 30a may be changeable by the user.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, lift-up is performed when a document is stacked on the document stacking surface 30a. However, the document stacking surface 30a is lifted up before the image reading job is started using another condition. Also good. For example, when there is a document on the document stacking surface 30a and the user operates the operation unit 904, a key for image reading setting (for example, color mode or magnification setting) other than the start of the image reading job is pressed. In this case, lift-up control may be performed. In this case, when the user operates the operation unit 904, the CPU 901 notifies the CPU 801, and the CPU 801 lifts up the document stacking surface 30a.

<Configuration of Paper Tray 30>
FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing an example of a state where the user lifts the paper feed tray 30 in order to remove the original on the paper discharge tray 13. In the configuration of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the user lifts the paper feed tray 30 in the lift-down state in which the paper feed tray 30 is stopped at the standby position, the angle θ1 from the horizontal position. Can only lift. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the user tries to lift the paper feed tray 30 in the lift-up state of the document stacking surface 30a, if the paper feed tray 30 is lifted from the horizontal position by an angle θ2, The user feels resistance due to the interference between the paper roller 1 and the upper surface of the document. The relationship between the above θ1 and θ2 is θ1> θ2. For this reason, the user feels that it is difficult to lift the paper feed tray 30 in the lift-up state of the original stacking surface 30a, and as a result, it is difficult to take out the original from the paper discharge tray 13. Therefore, when the user lifts the paper feed tray 30 and removes the original on the paper discharge tray 13, the operability is improved by controlling the paper feed tray 30 to be in a lift-down state as shown in FIG. I am letting.

<Example of lift-up / lift-down control considering discharged document>
An example of lift-up / lift-down control in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The CPU 801 changes the control for lifting the document stacking surface 30a before the start of the image reading job depending on whether or not there is a document on the discharge tray 13 by the discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19. When there is no document on the paper discharge tray 13, the CPU 801 controls the document stacking surface 30a to be positioned at a feeding position (first position) above the standby position before starting the image reading job (first position). Control). On the other hand, when there is a document on the paper discharge tray 13, the CPU 801 controls the document stacking surface 30a to be positioned at a standby position (second position) below the feeding position (first position) before the start of the image reading job. Second control).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of lift-up / lift-down control performed by the CPU 801. When the power is turned on, the CPU 801 lifts down the document stacking surface 30a by reversing the lifter motor 822 so that the user can easily stack the document on the document stacking surface 30a (S101). At this time, the paper feed roller 1 is raised and positioned at the raised position. In this state, the CPU 801 confirms whether an image reading job is started (S102).

  For example, when the user operates the operation unit 904 to start an image reading operation, the CPU 901 detects this and notifies the CPU 801 of the start of an image reading job. Upon receiving the image reading job start notification, the CPU 801 determines that the image reading job has started (YES in S102). The CPU 801 determines the presence / absence of a document on the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30 by confirming the presence / absence of the document by the document presence / absence detection sensor 14 (S113). If there is a document on the document stacking surface 30a of the sheet feed tray 30 (YES in S113), the CPU 801 moves the sheet feed roller 1 downward by rotating the separation motor 820 forward (S114). Then, the CPU 801 rotates the lift-up member 26 by rotating the lifter motor 822 in the normal direction to perform lift-up control for raising the paper feed tray 30 (S115).

  Then, the document is conveyed one by one from the uppermost document on the paper feed tray 30 (S109) and image reading (S110), and it is confirmed whether the reading to the last document is completed (S111). The CPU 801 determines that the reading to the last document has been completed when the document presence / absence detection sensor 14 detects that there is no document on the document stacking surface 30 a of the paper feed tray 30. When reading to the final document is completed (YES in S111), lift-down control of the document stacking surface 30a and raising of the paper feed roller 1 are performed (S112), and the document reading process is terminated. If reading has not been completed up to the final document (NO in S111), document conveyance (S109) and document reading (S110) are performed again. By repeating this, image reading is performed up to the final document stacked on the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30.

  If there is no document on the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30 in S113 (NO in S113), the optical scanner unit 202 is fixed in the sub-scanning direction for the document placed on the document table glass 209 for fixed reading. The image is read by scanning at a speed (S116).

  When the CPU 801 determines that the image reading job has not started in S102 (NO in S102), the CPU 801 monitors the presence / absence of the document by the document presence / absence detection sensor 14 and confirms whether there is a document on the paper feed tray 30 (S102). S103). When the document presence / absence detection sensor 14 detects that there is no document, the CPU 801 determines that there is no document on the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30 (NO in S103), and confirms the image reading job start notification from the CPU 901 again. (S102). By repeating this, it is monitored that the original is set on the paper feed tray 30.

  If the CPU 801 determines in S103 that there is a document on the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30 (YES in S103), the CPU 801 refers to the discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19 to determine whether there is a document on the discharge tray 13 or not. It is confirmed whether or not (S104).

  If the CPU 801 determines that there is an original on the paper discharge tray 13 in S104 (YES in S104), the CPU 801 confirms the image reading job start notification from the CPU 901 again (S102). Then, it is confirmed again whether there is a document on the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30 (S103) and whether there is a document on the paper discharge tray 13 (S104). As a result, when there is a document on the discharge tray 13, the user can easily take out the document on the discharge tray 13 without lifting the document stacking surface 30a. Further, when the user removes the original from the paper discharge tray 13, the lift-up control can be performed before the start of the image reading job, so that the time until the start of the image reading can be shortened.

  In this embodiment, in S104, when there is a discharged document on the discharge tray 13, the lifter motor 822 is not driven and the sheet feed tray 30 is not raised. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. Different controls may be used as long as the ease of the lifting operation of the paper feed tray 30 is not hindered. For example, in S104, when a discharged document exists on the discharge tray 13, the CPU 801 performs control within a range in which the document stacking surface 30a does not rise, that is, controls to rotate the lifter motor 822 by the amount of backlash. May be. Further, for example, the document stacking surface 30a may be raised within a range where the lifting operation of the paper feed tray 30 is not hindered. That is, when a document is present on the paper discharge tray 13, the CPU 801 performs control to position the document stacking surface 30a above the standby position and below the feeding position before the start of the image reading job. Also good. As described above, when there is a document on the paper discharge tray 13, it may be controlled so as to reduce the amount by which the document stacking surface 30 a is raised compared to the case where there is no document on the paper discharge tray 13.

  As the lift-up control method, after the sheet feed roller 1 is lowered, the lifter motor 822 is rotated forward to rotate the lift-up member 26 to the position where the sheet feed roller sensor 27 is turned on. The document stacking surface 30a is raised. Then, the lifter motor 822 is reversely rotated by a timer, a pulse count or the like to lower the sheet feeding tray 30 by a certain amount. By doing so, since the lift-up control is executed partly forward at the start of a subsequent image reading job, the lift-up time of the document stacking surface 30a can be shortened.

  When the CPU 801 determines that there is no original on the paper discharge tray 13 in S104 (NO in S104), the CPU 801 first rotates the separation motor 820 to lower the paper feed roller 1 (S105). Then, by rotating the lifter motor 822 in the forward direction, the lift-up member 26 is rotated and the paper feed tray 30 is raised. At this time, the paper feed roller sensor 27 is monitored, and when the ON is detected, the lifter motor 822 is stopped. Thereby, the above-described lift-up control is performed (S106). In the present embodiment, the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30 is raised until the paper feed roller sensor 27 is turned on, but the amount of rise is not limited to this. For example, the paper feed tray 30 may be lifted to the middle between the uppermost position and the lowermost position.

  After completion of the lift-up control, the CPU 801 checks again whether or not there is a document on the paper feed tray 30 (S107). This is because if the user removes the document while the document stacking surface 30 a is lifted up, the user performs lift-down so that the user can easily load the document on the paper feed tray 30.

  If the CPU 801 determines in S107 that there is no document on the paper feed tray 30 (NO in S107), it is determined that the user has removed the document once loaded on the paper feed tray 30. Then, in preparation for the case where the original is set again on the paper feed tray 30, lift-down is performed (S101). If it is determined in S107 that there is a document on the paper feed tray 30 (YES in S107), the CPU 801 determines whether to start an image reading job (S108).

  When the CPU 801 determines in S108 that the image reading job has not started (NO in S108), the CPU 801 determines again whether the user has removed the document (S107). If the CPU 801 determines that the image reading job has started in S108 (YES in S108), the CPU 801 performs document conveyance (S109) and image reading (S110) one by one from the uppermost document on the paper feed tray 30, It is confirmed whether reading to the final document is completed (S111). When reading to the final document is completed (YES in S111), lift-down control and raising of the paper feed roller 1 are performed (S112), and the process is terminated. If reading has not been completed up to the final document (NO in S111), document conveyance (S109) and document reading (S110) are performed again. By repeating this, image reading is performed up to the final document stacked on the paper feed tray 30.

  According to the flow described above, the lift-up control before the start of the image reading job is performed while securing the ease of the operation of lifting the paper feed tray 30 and taking out the discharged document using the discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19. Can be implemented. Further, when the user lifts the paper feed tray 30 with the document stacking surface 30a lifted up, the document can be prevented from being damaged by preventing the paper feed roller 1 and the document from interfering with each other. Further, when the user takes out the document from the paper discharge tray 13, it is difficult to lift the paper feed tray 30, and the user's convenience can be prevented from being impaired.

  In this embodiment, in S104, if there is a document on the paper discharge tray 13, the lift-up control is not performed. However, the lift-up control may be performed in consideration of other conditions. Other conditions will be described.

(Control considering the document size)
The size of the document conveyed in the image reading job performed previously is stored in the RAM 803 (sheet information storage unit), and lift-up control is performed when the document is on the discharge tray depending on the document size. You may switch whether or not. FIG. 7 shows a state in which 300 B5 originals are discharged onto the paper discharge tray 13. As shown in FIG. 7, when the document on the paper discharge tray 13 is small, it is difficult for the user to take out the document without lifting the paper feed tray 30. For example, after performing an image reading job in which a document whose main scanning direction (front and back direction in FIG. 7) is a predetermined length (for example, B5 length) or less is discharged to the discharge tray 13, Assume that the detection sensor 19 remains ON. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, it is conceivable that a document that is difficult to remove unless the paper feed tray 30 is lifted is stacked on the paper discharge tray 13. For this reason, after the image reading job in which the document whose main scanning direction is B5 or less is discharged to the paper discharge tray 13, if the paper discharge sensor remains on, the paper discharge tray 13 is displayed to the user at the time of determination in S104. Lift-up control is not performed to get the upper document removed. On the other hand, after the image reading job in which a document having a size in the main scanning direction larger than B5 is discharged to the discharge tray 13, if the discharge sensor remains ON, the document is not lifted without lifting the paper feed tray 30. When it is determined that the document can be taken out, the lift-up control may be performed when there is a document on the paper discharge tray 13 at the determination in S104.

(Control taking into account the number of originals ejected)
It is also possible to store in the RAM 803 the number of originals discharged for the image reading job that has been performed first, and switch whether or not to perform lift-up control when there are discharged originals on the paper discharge tray. Specifically, it is assumed that an image reading job in which 300 originals, which is the full number of discharge trays of the present configuration, are discharged in the previous image reading job is executed. FIG. 8 shows a state after 300 A3 originals are discharged. Assume that after the image reading job in which 300 originals are discharged to the paper discharge tray 13 is executed, the paper discharge tray original presence / absence detection sensor 19 remains ON, as shown in FIG. The situation is considered. If an image reading job is performed using the next ADF 100 in this state, the originals may collide with each other at the paper discharge unit, and jamming (paper jam) may occur. For this reason, when 300 or more originals are discharged in the previous image reading job and the paper discharge sensor remains ON after that, the user removes the originals on the paper discharge tray 13 at the determination of S104. Therefore, the lift-up control may not be performed. At this time, a display as shown in FIG. 9 may be displayed on the operation unit 904 to prompt the user to take out the discharged document. As a result, the image reading job is performed while leaving the original on the paper discharge tray 13, and there is a possibility that the original on the paper discharge tray 13 and the newly read original are mixed. This has the effect of reducing the possibility of jamming due to the leading edge of the document conveyed from the printer. Further, based on the same concept, if the discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19 remains ON after performing an image reading job in which fewer than 300 sheets of documents are discharged to the discharge tray 13, it is not necessary to remove the documents. It may be determined that the image reading job can be executed, and the lift-up control may be performed even when there is a document on the discharge tray 13 at the time of determination in S104.

[Embodiment 2]
<Configuration of this embodiment>
A configuration example of the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described in detail, and the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the control unit of the image reading apparatus including the ADF according to the present embodiment. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views illustrating a configuration example of an image reading apparatus including an ADF. Compared with the configuration of the first embodiment, a paper feed tray lifting sensor 24 is added, and a paper discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19 is not provided.

  In the second embodiment, the paper feed tray lifting sensor 24 and the RAM 803 (storage means) that stores the detection results of the paper feeding tray lifting sensor 24 acquire information about the presence / absence of the document in the paper discharge tray 13 (second processing). Information acquisition means). As shown in FIG. 11A, the paper feed tray lifting sensor 24 detects ON when the paper feed tray 30 is not lifted. Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, OFF is detected when the paper feed tray 30 is lifted. Therefore, the CPU 801 can determine whether or not the paper feed tray 30 is lifted by referring to the detection result of the paper feed tray lifting sensor 24. Since there is no discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19 as compared with the configuration of the first embodiment, the CPU 801 cannot directly determine whether there is a document on the discharge tray 13.

  The configuration of the image reading unit 200, the automatic document feeding unit (ADF) 100, the configuration of the block diagram, and the configuration of the paper feed tray 30 unit include the paper feed tray lifting sensor 24 described above, and a paper discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 19. The same as the first embodiment except that is not used.

  Regarding lift-up / lift-down control, in the first embodiment, when a document is stacked on the paper feed tray 30, the document stacking surface 30a is lifted up. In this embodiment, lift-up conditions are added. ing. The user operates the operation unit 904 with an original loaded on the paper feed tray 30, and presses an image reading setting (for example, a color mode or a magnification setting) other than a start key for starting an image reading job. In such a case, lift-up control is performed. That is, when the CPU 801 receives an operation notification from the operation unit such as a key other than the start key for starting the image reading job of the user in a state where the original is stacked on the paper feed tray 30, the CPU 801 Lift up.

<Example of lift-up / lift-down control considering discharged document>
An example of lift-up / lift-down control to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of lift-up / lift-down control performed by the CPU 801.

  The CPU 801 lifts down the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30 by reversing the lifter motor 822 so that the user can easily stack the documents on the paper feed tray 30 when the power is turned on (S201). In this state, the CPU 801 monitors whether the image reading job is started (S202).

  When the user operates the operation unit 904 to start the image reading operation, the CPU 901 detects this and notifies the CPU 801 of the start of the image reading job. When the CPU 801 receives the image reading job start notification, the CPU 801 determines that the image reading job is started (YES in S202), and determines the presence / absence of the document on the paper feed tray 30 by checking the presence / absence of the document by the document presence / absence detection sensor 14. S214). If there is an original on the paper feed tray 30 (YES in S214), the CPU 801 moves the paper feed roller 1 downward by rotating the separation motor 820 forward (S215). Subsequently, the CPU 801 rotates the lift-up member 26 by rotating the lifter motor 822 in the normal direction to perform lift-up control for raising the paper feed tray 30 (S216).

  Then, as described above, document conveyance (S210) and image reading (S211) are carried out one by one from the uppermost document on the paper feed tray 30, and it is confirmed whether reading has been completed up to the final document (S212). When reading to the final document is completed (YES in S212), lift-down control of the document stacking surface 30a of the sheet feed tray 30 and the raising of the sheet feed roller 1 are performed (S213), and the process is terminated. If the reading of the final document has not been completed (NO in S212), the document conveyance (S210) and the document reading (S211) are performed again. By repeating this, image reading is performed up to the final document stacked on the paper feed tray 30.

  If there is no original on the paper feed tray 30 in S214 (NO in S214), the optical scanner unit 202 is scanned at a constant speed in the sub-scanning direction for the original placed on the original platen glass 209 as a fixed reading. The image is read (S217).

  If the CPU 801 determines in S202 that the image reading job has not started (NO in S202), the CPU 801 monitors the presence / absence of the document by the document presence / absence detection sensor 14 and confirms whether there is a document on the paper feed tray 30 (S202). S203). When the document presence / absence detection sensor 14 detects that there is no document, the CPU 801 determines that there is no document on the paper feed tray 30 (NO in S203), and confirms the image reading job start notification from the CPU 901 again (S202). . When the CPU 801 determines that there is a document on the paper feed tray 30 in S203 (YES in S203), the CPU 801 determines whether the user has operated the operation unit (S204). When the user operates the operation unit 904 and presses an image reading setting (for example, a color mode or a magnification setting) other than the start of the image reading job, the CPU 901 notifies the CPU 801 of an operation unit operation. The CPU 801 can confirm whether the operation unit has been operated by confirming the presence or absence of this notification.

  In S204, when the CPU 801 determines that the operation unit has not been operated (NO in S204), the CPU 801 confirms the image reading job start notification from the CPU 901 again (S202). Then, it is confirmed again whether there is a document on the paper feed tray 30 (S203) and whether the operation unit 904 is operated (S204).

  If the CPU 801 determines that the operation unit has been operated in S204 (YES in S204), it is checked whether or not there is a history of lifting the paper feed tray 30 by the user after the previous image reading job is performed (S205). . By confirming the lifting history, it is determined whether or not the user has removed the original on the paper discharge tray 13. A method in which the CPU 801 confirms whether or not there is a lifting history of the paper feed tray 30 is as follows.

  First, a paper feed tray lifting history flag is prepared in the RAM 803. At the end of the ADF document conveyance job, the CPU 801 sets the document lifting history flag to 0 and starts monitoring the paper feed tray lifting sensor 24. As described above, the paper feed tray lifting sensor 24 detects ON when the paper feed tray 30 is not lifted, and OFF when the paper feed tray 30 is lifted. Therefore, the CPU 801 determines that the paper feed tray 30 has been lifted when the paper feed tray lift sensor 24 starts monitoring and then turns off once and then turns on. Then, 1 is recorded in the paper feed tray lifting history flag in the RAM 803. In S205, the lifting history flag is referred to. When it is 1, it is determined that there is a lifting history, and when it is 0, it is determined that there is no lifting history.

  If the CPU 801 determines that there is no document lifting history in S205 (NO in S205), the CPU 801 again confirms the image reading job start notification from the CPU 901 without performing lift-up control (S202). The reason why the lift-up control is not performed is that there is a possibility that the document remains on the paper discharge tray and the user lifts the paper feed tray 30 to remove the document. As a result, lift-up control is not performed when there is a document on the paper discharge tray 13, and lift-up control is performed when the user operates the operation unit 904 after lifting the paper feed tray 30 and removing the document from the paper discharge tray 13. Can be implemented. Here, the user controls to lift up the document stacking surface 30a when the user operates the operation unit 904 after lifting the paper feed tray 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if there is no lifting history of the paper feed tray 30 at the timing when the operation unit 904 is operated, if the paper feed tray 30 is lifted after that, lift-up control is performed at that timing. Also good.

  If the CPU 801 determines that there is a document lifting history in S205 (YES in S205), the CPU 801 first rotates the separation motor 820 to lower the paper feed roller 1 (S206). Then, the lift-up member 26 is rotated by rotating the lifter motor 822 in the normal direction to raise the document stacking surface 30 a of the paper feed tray 30. At this time, the paper feed roller sensor 27 is monitored, and when the ON is detected, the lifter motor 822 is stopped. Thereby, the above-described lift-up control is performed (S207).

  After completion of the lift-up control, the CPU 801 checks whether there is a document on the paper feed tray 30 (S208). This is because when the user removes the original with the original stacking surface 30a lifted up, the user performs lift-down to make it easier for the user to load the original on the paper feed tray 30.

  If the CPU 801 determines that there is no document on the paper feed tray 30 in S208 (NO in S208), it is determined that the user has removed the document once loaded on the paper feed tray 30, and the document is placed on the paper feed tray 30 again. In preparation for setting, lift-down is performed (S201). If it is determined in S208 that there is a document on the paper feed tray 30 (YES in S208), the CPU 801 determines whether to start an image reading job (S209).

  If the CPU 801 determines that the image reading job has not started in S209 (NO in S209), the CPU 801 determines again whether the user has removed the document (S208). If the CPU 801 determines in S209 that the image reading job has started (YES in S209), the CPU 801 conveys the original one by one (S210) and reads the image (S211) from the uppermost document on the paper feed tray 30 as described above. ) And confirms whether or not the reading of the final document has been completed (S212). When reading to the final document is completed (YES in S212), lift-down control and raising of the paper feed roller 1 are performed (S213), and the process is terminated. If the reading of the final document has not been completed (NO in S212), the document conveyance (S210) and the document reading (S211) are performed again. By repeating this, image reading is performed up to the final document stacked on the paper feed tray 30.

  The lift-up control can be performed while ensuring the ease of the operation of lifting the paper feed tray 30 and taking out the discharged document by the flow described above. In addition, when the user lifts the paper feed tray 30 with the document stacking surface 30a lifted up, the possibility of damaging the document can be reduced by preventing the document feed roller 1 and the document from interfering with each other. Further, when the user takes out the document from the paper discharge tray 13, it is difficult to lift the paper feed tray 30, and the user's convenience can be prevented from being impaired.

  In this embodiment, the lift-up control of the document stacking surface 30a of the paper feed tray 30 is performed based on the lifting history of the paper feeding tray 30 in S205. However, even if the control is changed in consideration of conditions other than the lifting history. Good. For example, as described in the first embodiment, the size of the document and the number of discharged documents may be considered.

  For example, when an image reading job in which a document having a size in the main scanning direction larger than B5 is discharged to the discharge tray 13 is performed, it is determined that the document can be taken out without lifting the paper feed tray 30. The lift-up control may be performed when there is no lifting history at the time of the determination in S205.

  If an image reading job in which fewer than 300 originals are discharged to the paper discharge tray 13 is executed, it is determined that the image reading job can be executed without taking out the original, and there is no lifting history at the time of determination in S205. Nevertheless, lift-up control may be performed.

  In the above description of the embodiment, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has been described as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention can also be applied to an inkjet image forming apparatus that protrudes ink to form an image on a recording medium. It is.

1000 Image reader 100 ADF
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 200 Image reading part 300 Controller 310 Controller S Document bundle 1 Paper feed roller 11 Paper discharge sensor 13 Paper discharge tray 14 Document presence / absence detection sensor 19 Paper discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 30 Paper feed tray 30a Document stacking surface 820 Separation motor 821 Reading motor 822 Lifter motor 904 Operation unit 801, 901 CPU
802, 902 ROM
803, 903 RAM

Claims (14)

A first sheet provided with a feeding position where sheets can be stacked and a sheet can be fed, and a stacking unit that can take a standby position below the feeding position, and is rotatably provided above. Loading means;
A feeding means for feeding the sheet in contact with the sheet when the stacking unit is at the feeding position;
Image reading means for reading an image of a sheet conveyed from the first sheet stacking means;
A second sheet stacking unit that is provided below the first sheet stacking unit and stacks a sheet on which an image is read by the image reading unit;
Second information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the presence or absence of sheets stacked on the second sheet stacking means;
Driving means for raising the stacking unit from the standby position to the feeding position;
Control means for controlling the drive means;
With
When the second information acquisition unit determines that no sheet is present in the second sheet stacking unit, the control unit moves the stacking unit to the standby position before starting an image reading job. Performing a first control to control the driving means so as to be located at a first position above
When the second information acquisition unit determines that there is a sheet on the second sheet stacking unit, the control unit moves the stacking unit to the first unit before starting an image reading job. An image reading apparatus capable of executing a second control for controlling the driving means so as to be positioned at a second position below the position. Comprising first information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the presence or absence of sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking means;
The control unit executes the first control or the second control when the first information acquisition unit determines that a sheet exists in the first sheet stacking unit. Item 2. The image reading apparatus according to Item 1. First information acquisition means for acquiring information on the presence or absence of sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking means;
An operation unit for the user to set the operation of the image reading apparatus;
With
The control unit determines that the first information acquisition unit determines that a sheet exists in the first sheet stacking unit, and the user performs an operation on the operation unit. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control is executed.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not raise the stacking unit in the second control.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second position is the standby position.   5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein an amount of raising the stacking unit in the second control is less than an amount of raising the stacking unit in the first control. The image reading apparatus according to any one of the above.   After the second control, the control unit moves the stacking unit in the direction of the feeding position when the second information acquisition unit determines that there is no sheet in the second sheet stacking unit. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit is controlled so as to be moved to the position.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second information acquisition unit is a sensor that detects a sheet stacked on the second stacking unit. The second information acquisition means includes a lifting detection means for detecting whether the user is lifting the first sheet stacking means,
8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit that stores information related to a user lifting the first sheet stacking unit by the lift detection unit. .   Sheet information storage means for storing information relating to the sheet from which the image has been read is provided, and the control means performs the first control or the second control based on the information in the sheet information storage means The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is changed. The information in the sheet information storage means is information relating to the sheet size of the image reading job that has been performed previously,
Even when the second information acquisition unit determines that there is a sheet in the second sheet stacking unit, the control unit may determine that the information regarding the size of the sheet is smaller than a predetermined size. The image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first control is executed. The information in the sheet information storage means is information relating to the number of sheets of the image reading job that has been performed previously,
Even when the control unit determines that there is a sheet in the second sheet stacking unit by the second information acquisition unit, if the information regarding the number of sheets is smaller than a predetermined number, The image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first control is executed. Comprising first information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the presence or absence of sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking means;
The control unit controls the driving unit to move the stacking unit to the standby position when the first information acquisition unit determines that no sheet is present in the first sheet stacking unit. Item 13. The image reading apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 12. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 13,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images